Author: Editorial Team
Pilgrims from the People’s Republic of Bangladesh praised the Makkah Route Initiative for fulfilling their aspirations by facilitating Hajj travel with unprecedented ease. Now in its sixth year of implementation at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport in Dhaka and its eighth year globally, the initiative is a key component of the Ministry of Interior’s efforts under the Pilgrim Experience Program, aligned with Saudi Vision 2030. This year, the initiative serves 10 countries across 17 international entry points, including new participants Senegal and Brunei Darussalam. The program streamlines the pilgrimage by providing electronic visas, verifying health requirements, and completing passport and biometric procedures at…
RIYADH — Saudi Customs at the land, sea, and air ports across the Kingdom recorded 864 seizures of contraband during the last week. The seized items include 35 types of narcotics, such as hashish, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine, and Captagon pills, in addition to 345 types of other prohibited materials. Customs ports also foiled 1,946 attempts to smuggle tobacco and its derivatives, along with 15 types of cash and five types of weapons and related equipment. The seizures were part of the ongoing efforts of the Zakat, Tax and Customs Authority (ZATCA) to enhance security and protect society from all types…
RIYADH — The Board of Directors of the Real Estate General Authority (REGA) has approved the Real Estate Marketing and Advertising Regulations, pursuant to the Real Estate Brokerage Law. This is aimed at enhancing transparency and safeguarding stakeholders within the real estate market. Under the new regulations, the use of the names of government entities in real estate marketing is strictly prohibited. The advertising license will be revoked if it is found that its validity has expired or used in a manner inconsistent with its stated purpose, or it contains misleading or inaccurate information. Under the regulations, it is prohibited…
The inaugural Hajj flight for the 1447 AH season departed from Allama Iqbal International Airport, marking another successful implementation of the Makkah Route Initiative, launched by the Ministry of Interior under Saudi Vision 2030, which continues to redefine the pilgrimage experience by merging advanced technology and world-class humanitarian services to ensure a seamless spiritual journey. The initiative transforms the Hajj experience for Pakistani pilgrims from the moment they enter the dedicated terminal in Lahore. Specialized teams facilitate streamlined procedures, including electronic visa processing and biometric data collection, allowing pilgrims to bypass traditional arrival formalities in the Kingdom. The journey is further…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia and Syria are exploring the prospect of further enhancing bilateral cooperation in the land transport sector in a way developing and improving the efficiency of the transport system. Eng. Abdulmajid Al-Tassan, vice president for regulatory affairs at the Saudi Transport General Authority, met with Mohammed Rahal, Syria’s deputy minister of transport, at the authority’s headquarters in Riyadh on Thursday. During the meeting, both sides emphasized the importance of facilitating the movement of passengers and goods between the two countries and continuing joint coordination to support the smooth flow of land transport and enhance the integration of…
RIYADH — Saudi security authorities arrested a total of 11,300 illegal residents in a week. The arrests were made in the joint inspections, carried out by the security forces in collaboration with the relevant government agencies, during the period between April 23 and April 29, the Ministry of Interior revealed on Saturday. Those who were arrested include 6,244 violators of the Residency Law, 3,543 violators of the Border Security Law, and 1,513 violators of the Labor Law. A total of 14,855 illegal residents were deported while 18,601 violators were referred to their diplomatic missions to obtain travel documents and 4,337…
The King Abdulaziz and His Companions for Giftedness and Creativity Foundation (Mawhiba) has officially launched its new identity, marking a pivotal institutional transformation aimed at evolving the foundation’s business model and strengthening strategic directions to align with national priorities in human capital, research, and innovation. Inspired by the historic seal of King Abdulaziz bin Abdulrahman Al Saud, the new visual identity reaffirms Mawhiba’s deep national roots. It connects this foundational legacy with the foundation’s modern mission: discovering gifted individuals, nurturing creativity, and enhancing sustainable national impact. Mawhiba attributed its qualitative leaps in empowering Saudi talent to the generous support of…
GAZA CITY — A new humanitarian aid convoy provided by the King Salman Humanitarian Aid and Relief Center (KSrelief) arrived in the Gaza Strip Friday. The convoy carries large quantities of food baskets as part of the Saudi popular campaign to aid the Palestinian people in the strip. The assistance was received by the Saudi Center for Culture and Heritage, the implementing partner of KSrelief in the Gaza Strip, to help enhance food security and alleviate the severity of the humanitarian crisis. This aid is part of Saudi Arabia’s ongoing humanitarian efforts, carried out through KSrelief, to support the Palestinian…
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia has ranked second globally, after the United States, among the most attractive markets for data centers. This is a remarkable achievement that reflects the Kingdom’s growing position in digital infrastructure and its rapid expansion in a market increasingly driven by artificial intelligence and cloud computing. According to a Bloomberg analysis, Saudi Arabia secured second place globally in data center market attractiveness. The analysis also indicated that power availability and land enablement together account for 58 percent of market attractiveness for data center projects. At the same time, 22.8 gigawatts of new capacity are currently under development…
Beekeepers in Aseer Region are currently engaged in their seasonal hive migration, a traditional practice that follows the flowering cycles and diverse natural pastures of the Sarawat mountains and Tihama plains. This strategic movement allows honeybees to access varied sources of nectar and pollen, significantly enhancing the quality and diversity of the honey produced. According to Ibrahim Al-Khalban, an international honey expert and member of the Beekeepers Association in Rijal Almaa, the region’s unique topography dictates the harvest schedule. The Sidr honey season peaks in late summer and early fall, while Talh honey and wildflower spring honey are harvested in…